What's Your Opening Strategy?
Mastering the First 15 Minutes of Your Coding Interview
The most important part of a coding interview is the first 15 minutes. These initial moments can make or break your interview. This is the time you spend understanding the problem and fleshing out your approach. It's also when your interviewer forms their first impression of you.
Many candidates approach this phase without a clear plan. However, you can significantly improve your odds of success by adopting a structured approach.
I call this structure the opening strategy.
Just like in chess, where the opening strategy sets the direction of the game, your interview opening strategy sets the tone for the rest of your interview.
The Ideal Opening Strategy for Your Coding Interview
Minutes 1–3: Read the Problem Carefully
Read the problem statement thoroughly.
Reread important parts to ensure complete comprehension.
Minutes 3–5: Analyze Inputs and Outputs
Examine the input and output formats.
Draw diagrams on paper—arrays, trees, graphs, etc. Make sure to have your pen and paper ready for this.
Check the role of each parameter.
Verify why the sample output corresponds to the given input.
Visualize extensively: data structures, data flow, and the actions applied to the data.
Minutes 1–5: Ask Clarifying Questions
At any point during this time, ask the interviewer clarifying questions.
Aim to ask at least two meaningful questions.
Avoid jumping into solutions; suppress thoughts about the approach or implementation for now.
Minutes 5–7: Create Your Own Examples
Develop one or two examples to verify your understanding.
Confirm these examples with the interviewer.
This will help in identifying a viable approach.
Tips for Creating Examples:
Don't make them too simple or too complex; ensure they have substance.
Copy and modify the sample input provided if the input is too complex to write from scratch (i.e. matrix, graphs, etc.).
Consider changing some parameters if there are several for a quick new example.
Avoid focusing on edge cases at this point.
The goal of the first part of your opening strategy is to fully understand the problem. Understanding the problem is half the solution. If you don't fully grasp what's being asked, it's unproductive to start thinking about solutions. There should be no trace of doubt in your understanding.
Minutes 7–15: Identify an Optimal Approach
Now that you thoroughly understand the problem and have worked through examples, it's time to devise an approach.
Use your drawings, examples, and prior experience with similar problems to guide you.
Don't be overly cautious; explore any algorithms or data structures that come to mind.
Discuss your thought process with the interviewer.
Aim to find the most efficient solution before diving into coding.
Minutes 15–40: Implement Your Solution
This phase isn't part of the opening strategy, but it greatly benefits from it. If you've executed your opening strategy effectively, this part—coding your solution—should be more straightforward.
Why This Opening Strategy Works
Avoids Misunderstandings: Early clarification prevents wasted time on incorrect solutions.
Builds Confidence: A structured plan reduces anxiety and boosts confidence.
Brings Closer to The Solution: Focus on understanding and examples gets you to the solution faster.
First Impressions Matter: Demonstrating a methodical approach impresses interviewers.
Highlights Communication Skills: Engaging with the interviewer shows collaboration and problem-solving abilities.
Approaching your coding interviews with a well-defined opening strategy can significantly enhance your performance. By dedicating the first 15 minutes to understanding the problem thoroughly and outlining an optimal approach, you set yourself up for success in the rest of the interview.
Stay curious and happy coding!
Nurbo
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